Improvement in shot-cartridges



two wires before it fiirr.

CHARLES W. LOVETT, JR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 113,677, dated April 11, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT lN SHOT-CARTRIDGFS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whoin' it may concern:

Be it known that I, Onsnnns W. Lovn'rT, Jr., of Boston, in the county of Sulfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented anew and improved Gun-Cartridge; and I declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof.

The nature of my invention consists in producing a case or cartridge for shot, bullets, balls, or other projectiles by inclosing the same in a spiral or coil composed of two or more spiral or coils of wire, rods, strips of metal, or other equivalent material joined at one of the ends, the opposite ends being left free and disunited, so as to allow the coils or spirals on the eartridge being discharged from the gun to separate and spring somewhat apart and divide the cartridge or case into three or more separate compartments or cages.

My mode of construction is as follows:

Itwist two or more lengths of wire, rods, or strips of metal, or other equivalent material, around a inandrel, taking care to have the mandrel smaller in circumference than the intended coil or spiral, on account of'its tendency to enlarge upon being released.

1 then, upon a slightly larger mandrel, make a very light caseof paper, cloth, or othcrhimilar material and place or inclose the coil or coils within it. The case is then packed with shot mixed with powdered chalk, Tripoli, or other tinely-divideddry equivalent material, aud=a common paper or other gun-wad placed over the shot, the whole being secured by turning the ends of the case over aud fastening them with paste or gum.

T-hc cartridges are then labeled with the gauge of the gun, and the weight and size of the shot, and are ready for use. p s

Figure 1 in the accompanying drawings making part of this specificationrepresents the case or coil of is filled with snot and inelosed in the wrapperA being the point of juncture of the separate .coils, and B, the separate, op'posite ends of the coils or spirals.

Figure 2 represents the cartridge when loaded and at its completion. 7

Figures 3 and 5 represent the spiral or case, consisting of two coils with the disconnected ends separated, the whole forming three compartments or cages.

Figure 4 represents the outline of the form the cartridge assumes on being discharged from the gun and themanner in which the shot is distributed, the black lines representing the outlines of the compartments or cages.

.The following are some of the advantages proved by experiment that this cartridge possess over those now in use:

First, that the shot ity a portion of the shot immediately upon the discharge of the gun, and continuing to deliver it throughout its entire flight, thus rendering it efiective both for short or for very long ranges.

Second, that the spiral (JIZCOH bursts or separates as soon as discharged from the gun, the'construe'tion of the lower end of the cartridge readily admitting of is delivered. with more uniformthis, thus obviating one of the principle defects of' wire shot cartridges now in use,it being observed that they do not burst or distribute their shot with any degree of uniformity.

Third, that the cartridge does not turn over and over in its flight, or assume other irregular motions, 'the cartridge being such that that the construction (it portion of the charge in the head of the cartridge is delivered last, and contributes by its weight to accomplish this result.

I am aware that other wire cartridges are now or have been used, and that a single spiral case has been used for canister shot; but I am not aware that a donbleor multiple spiral of wires or rods united at one of their ends; and so constructed as to spring apart and assume another form upon leaving the gun, has ever been before used.

This case or form of cartridge is specially applicable to shot-guns, but it may be used with equal efficiency for case-shot for field or other ordnance.

What- I claim as my invention, and desire to. secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- A gun-cartridge, consisting of two or more spirals or coils of wire, or other similar material, arranged substantially as above described.

CHAS. W. LOVETT, JR.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. HAYES, Jr., C. E. GR'AM.

than by other cartridges; the cartridge delivering 

